Manufacture of starch



De@ 27, 193.8.v s. SHURACK 2,141,562

MANUFACTURE OF STARCH Filed July 8, 1955 Inl/eraan rnfeys 40 A further object is to so Patented Dec. '27, 1938 UNITED STATES 2,141,562 MANuFAc'rUaE or s'rAacn Samuel Shurback, North Kansas City, Mo., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Corn Products Refining Company, New York, N.. Y., a corporation oi New Jersey Applicationl July 8, 1935, Serial No. 30,276

9 Claims.

This invention relates to the process of obtaining starch from com, by the wet method, of the type in which all, or substantially all, of the process waters exceptthe steepAwaterdraw-oil and water absorbed in the solids, to wit the germ, s lops, gluten and starch, are reused in the process for the purpose of saving solubles and preventingk the pollution oi' streams through the discharge thereto of process waters.

10 The invention relates more particularly to the type of starch process disclosed in application oi Frederick L. Jeiieries Io'r Manufacture of starch, Serial No. 668,095, illed April 26, 1933; according to which all or substantially all of the water 4used as a Icarrier for the solids in the separationof the gluten from the starch is returned to the .operation of steeping the corn, so that little or none of this highly infected water has to be reused in the separating operations. One of the objects of the present invention is to adapt a process of this type for use with a vacuum lter employed for concentrating' the mill starch delivered to the starch tables, or to the other means used for separating the gluten from the starch. Vacuum lters of the displacement type, such for example as the string lters in which the layer of solids on the vacuum drum are discharged by means of endless strings, operate eiliciently only at certain densities of the starch, gluten and water mixture, constituting the mill starch. The present invention, taking advantage of the fact that the separating operations result in three mill starch streams or quite different densities, that is, different contents of starch and gluten, proceeds upon the principle of combining mill starch from the three streams in such proportions as.

to give a density of the magma going to the lter which will insure maximum eiiiciency in the operation of such filter. distribute the mill starch, the iiltrate from the string iilter (or other vacuum lter) and the wash water resulting from the washing of the starch with fresh water, so as to obtain the most effective density of the A starch milk in the germ separators and the high- I. est washing or separating eiliciencyin the germ, coarse slop and ne slop washes.

In the preferred operation of the process the v major portion of the high density mill starch from the germ separation, goes to the string lter; the

major portion of the low density mill starch from the iine slop wash goes to the germ separators; the mill starch from the coarse slop wash, of medium density,'is distributed as between the string filter and the separators; the 'illtrate from (ci. 12v-ss.) f

the string iilter and the starch wash water is used in the germ and slop washes: and the mill starch mixture sent to the string'lter is divided,

part going to feed the lter and the rest to dilute the solid material discharged from the filter.' so 5 that the mill starch stream delivered to the starch tables, or other means for separating the gluten from the starch, will have the proper density for such separating operation (the preferable density in the case of a tabling operation being about 13 10 Baume) in order that all' of the gluten settler water may be returned to the steeps and the steep Awater draw-oit restricted to a practicable maximum of approximately seven gallons per bushel of corn ground. v 15 It is noted that throughout the specification, the water quantities will be given in terms of gallons per bushel ci corn groun l The preferred process, in accordance with the vprinciples ofoperation above set forth, is shown inthe accompanying cw sheet drawing in which the means employed for carrying out the steps of the process are given reference letters as iollows:

A indicates' the steeps: B the Foos mills in which 25 the steeped grain is broken up in order to free the germs; C the gravity germ separators; D. the system of reels and/ or shakers in which the germs separated at C lare washed for removal of starch and gluten; E and F the reel and shaker, respec- 30 tively, for separating from thel grits the starch milk, which latter is discharged from the shaker through pipe at; G the Buhr mill for grinding the grits; H the system of reels and/or shakers constituting the coarse slop wash; I the shaker for 35' separating from the ne slop the starch milk, which is discharged through pipe y; `J the system of silk reels and/ox' shakers constituting the ne slop wash, the mill starch fromv which is discharged through pipe z; M the press for pressing 40 the water out of the iine slop; N the filter for concentrating the mill starch delivered to the starch tables designated O; P the gluten settlers; R the filters or other means used for washing the starch taken from tables O; U a mill starch supply tank 45 for the iilter N; and V a supply-tank for the light starch liquor distributed to the germ and slop washings.

The filter N is preferably a vacuum filter of the drum type, the drum being indicated at l0 50 and arranged to dipinto the body of mill starch maintained, at'the proper level, in the ieed tank Il. ExtendingI around the drum IIIl and over sheaves I2 and I3 are a plurality oi! strings I4 which serve todischarge the layer of solid mate- 55 through pipe 1lil passes through pipe 24 to shaker F, and the 7 gallons, is discharged to rialon the drum into the discharge vessel I5 wherethe material is diluted to the prop er density for tabling, as will be hereinafter filtrate is discharged from the lter through pipe I6. Inasmuch as ltersof this type are wellknown, the diagrammatic showing of the filter given in the drawing is deemed suiilcient.

The connecting pipes, troughs, conduits or conveyors, (for convenience referred to hereafter as pipes) .will be identii'edmby reference numerals in the description of the operation of the process' which will now be given. In this description water quantities, in terms of gallons per bushel of corn ground, anddensities will be given, so far as required for an understanding of the invention; these quantitiesbeing `based upon a seven gallon draw-oir of steep water and upon the assumption that all gluten settler water is to beV returned to the steeps. Obviously these ,quan-'- titles are preferential and are not to be considered as limitations upon the invention.

'I'he corn containing 1.2 gallons of water enters the steeps A through pipe I1. The steep water, the evaporators (not shown) through pipe I8, and the steeped com is delivered through pipe I3A to the Foos mills B. 'Ihe corn ground in mills B passes through pipe 20 to the separators C. 'I'he germs overilowing from the separators pass through pipe 2l to the germ wash D, the starch milk from the germ wash being returned to the separators through pipe 22. The grits from the separators'pass 23 to reel E. 'I'he water from reel tailings from the reel and shaker pass through pipes 25, 26 to the Buhr mill G. The material ground in millG passes through pipe 21 to the coarse slop wash, the mill starch from which goes through pipe 28 to shaker I. The tailings 'from the shaker I pass through pipe 29 to the fine slop wash J.. The ne slop passes through pipe 30 to the press M, and the water from the press, 3.5 gallons, through pipe 3| to the supply V vessel V.

The germs are discharged from the germ wash D at 32 and contain 0.5 gallon of water; the coarse slop is discharged at 33 from the coarse slop wash and contains 0.6 gallon of water; the ne slop is discharged from the press M at 34 and contains 0.3 gallon of water.

The mill starch in pipe :c from the germ system will have a density of approximately 10.5 Baum.

The mill starch from the coarse slop wash in pipe y will have a density of approximately 6.5 Baum. The mill starch Afrom the fine slop wash in ypipe z will -have aV density of approximately 2.5 Baum.

In order to best effectuate the purposes of the present invention the mill starch streams are divided, recombined and distributed in thefollowing manner:

Of the 17 gallons of high density mill starch in ar, 11 gallons are sent to the mill starch lter supply tank through pipel 35vexcept that-occasionally 1 gallon is sent through pipe l3|; to the separator C in which case the ow through 35 is reduced to 10 gallons; and 6 gallons of the :z: stream are sent to the tables as hereinafter described. The stream 36 is a balancing stream,

used or not, as required, to maintain the proper density of the liquid in the separators.

The major portion, 11 gallons, of the low grav- ,ity mill starch in z is sent through pipe 31 to the separators C; 1 gallon, for adjustment, going,

described. VThe l pipe 39 to tank U and to the process since `6.3" Baum), 15

as needed, through pipe lter supply tank U. The medium density mill starch in u is distributed as between the separators Cl and the filter supply tank U, 11 gallons going through 6 gallons through pipe 40 to the separators.

This arrangement. gives considerable flexibility the distribution. as between the separators C and the supply tank U for the string lter N may is about 9 Baum and a relatively high density in the mill starch going to the string lter. This density for maximum eiiiciency should be at least 6 Baum.

Of the mill starch in tank U (22 gallons at gallons passes vthrough pipe 4I to the feed tank Ilv oi iilter N. The suction of the filter picks up the solids inthis liquor and forms a layer oi the same on the drum, which layer is stripped off by the strings I4 as the drum revolves and is discharged into` the vessel I5.

7 gallons of mill starch from tank U passesl through pipe 42 to the receiving vessel I5 of the lter N for diluting the'splids delivered by the lter. 'Ihe resultant starch liquor, 10 gallons, is mixed with 6 gallons of millstarch in the branch pipe a." from line a1, the mixture having, preferably, a density of 13 Baum and being delivered to the table heads at this density.

The lter N extracts 12 gallons of water from the mill starch treated, and 'this water passes through pipe I6 to the supply vessel V.

It has been found that a vacuum lter of the type indicated at N does not operate eiiiciently with a low Baume mixture of starch and gluten. The presence of the gluten, apparently, prevents the building up of a thick cake and the maintenance of a uniform high vacuumin the interior of the drum. By increasing thedensity to 6.0,s Baum. or higher, the proportion of starch to gluten per volume of liquid is increased so that the lter will operate eiliciently. A.The lter N operates merely enough of the mill starch from U is carried round the lter and mixed with the solid material discharged from the lter to give a proper density to themill starch delivered to the table heads.

The starch deposited on the tables 0 is re' moved therefrom, for example by ilushing, and passes through pipe 44 to the starch washing apparatus R, from which the washed starch is discharged at 45 containing 3.1 gallons of water. The wash water from the starch Vwashing operation, 10.75 gallons, passes through pipe 46 to the supply vessel V. 11.2 gallons of fresh water is introduced to the starch washing operation at 41.

'I'he gluten and water tailing oi! from the starch tables O passes in'to the gluten settlers P where the gluten subsid being ultimately discharged at 48 with a water content of 0.9 gallon. The gluten water 10.25 gallonsfrom the settlers P passes through pipe 43 to the steeps A. The operation vo i settling the gluten in the settlers is onewhich requires several hours. It prolongs the process more than any other step, and conditions in the gluten settlers favor the development of micro-organisms, which if returned, with the gluten water to the system, will contaminate the starch. Inaccordance with the present invention allot the gluten settler water is4 returned to the steeps from which it is discharged to the evaporators, none being used for the germ, coarse slop or line slop washes. These washes are sup- 38 to the starch' as a de-watering device, hence,

be varied so `as to maintain v vthe most eiiective density in the separators, which l press.

small. Pipe, Il! leads from tank V and has a y mill starch streams of different densities; treatvmixture of relatively low density,

ing from the lter N and from thestarch washing operation, with a small amount from the fine' slop Its micro-organic content is relatively branch l takinga gallons tothe germ wash D, a branch 52 taklng'13.25' gallons to the coarse slop wash H, and a branch il taking gallons to the flne slop wash J.

While full details have been given for .operation of the process of the present invention according to preferred procedures, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these details. It is the intention, on the contrary, i modifications within the scope of the appended claims. A v

1. In the process of obtaining starch from co comprising: steeping and comminuting thecorn: subjecting the material to. operations for separating and washing the germs and slop yielding ing mill starch to remove gluten andthe maior portion ofthe water therefrom; and re-using said last mentioned waterk for steeping corn, as the continued, the improvement which comprises: extracting water from a mill starch mixture of relatively. high density before treating it for removal of gluten: and returning to the separating and washingl operations mill starch without treatment, and the water extracted as aforesaid from the high density mill starch mixture whereby substantially all of the mill starch with the gluten may be returned to process is the steeping operation.

2. In the process of obtaining starch from corn comprising: steeping and comminuting the corn; subjecting the material to operations for separating and washing the germs and slop yielding mill starch streams of diiferent densities; treating mill starch to remove gluten and the major portion of the water therefrom: and re-using said last mentioned water for steeping corn, as the process is continued, 'the improvement which comprises: extracting water from a `mill starch mixture of relatively high density before treating it for removal of gluten and re-using said water in said washing operations as the process is continued: and returning to the germ separating operation, without treatment, a mill starch mixture of relatively low density, whereby substantially all of the water removed from the mill lstarch 'with the gluten may be returned to the steeping operation. r i

3. In the process of obtaining starch from corn comprising: steeping and comminuting the corn; subjecting the material to germ separating and coarse and iine slop washing operations yielding mill starch streams of different densities; treating mill starch to remove gluten and the major portion of the water therefrom; and re-using said last mentioned water for steeping corn as the process is continued, the improvement which comprises:4 extracting water from a mixture containing the major portion of the high density mill starch from the germ separator and portions of the rest of the mill starch and returning the extracted water to the coarse and fine slop washes; and returning, without treatment, to the germ separating operation the major portion of the low density mill starch from the ne slop wash, whereby substantially all of the water removed from the mill starch with the gluten may be returned to the steeping operation.

to cover all water removed from the- 3 4. m um of obtaining starch from' com comprising: steeping and comminuting the corn: 'subjecting the, material to germ separating and coarse and fine slop washing operations yielding mill starch streams of different densities; treating mill starchto remove gluten and the 'major portion of the water therefrom;v and re-using said last mentioned water for steeping corn as the process is continued. the improvement which, comprises: extracting water from a mixture containing the major portion of the high density mill starch from the germ separator and portions of the rest of the mill starch and returning the extracted water to the coarse and ne slop washes; returning, withouttreatment, to the germ sepav rating operation the major portion of the low density mill starch from the ne slop wash; combining with, the high density mill lstarch going to the filter part of the medium density millstarch from the coarse slop wash and returning the rest of said medium density mill starch with the low density mill starch to the germ separating operation, whereby substantially all ofthe water removed from thel mill starch with the gluten may be returned to the steeping operation.

5. In the process of obtaining starch from corn comprising: steeping and comminuting the corn; subjecting 'the material to germ separating and coarse and fine slop washing operations yielding mill starch streams of different densities; treating mill starch to remove gluten and the major portion of the water therefrom; and reusing said l'ast mentioned water for steeping corn as the process is continued, the improvement which comprises: extracting water from a-mixture containing the maior portion of the high density mill starch from the germ separator and portions of the rest of the mill'starch and returning the extracted water to the coarse and line slop wash; returning,A without treatment, to the germ separating operation the major portion of the low density mill starch from the fine slop wash; and using part of the high density mill starch from the germ separation for diluting the aforesaid de-watered material, before treating it for removal of gluten.

6. In the process of obtaining starch from corn comprising: steeping and comminuting the corn; subjecting the material to germ separating and coarse and fine slop washing operations yielding mill starch streams of different densities; treating mill starch to remove gluten and the major portion of the water therefrom; and 'reusing said last mentioned water for steeping corn as the process is continued, the improvement ture containing the major portion of the high density mill starch from .the germ ,separator and portions of the rest of the mill starch and returning the extracted water to the coarse and fine slop washes; returning, without treatment,-to the germseparating operation the major portion of the low density mill starch from the ne slop wash; combining with the high density mill starch going to the filter part of the medium density mill starch from the coarse slop wash and returning the rest of said medium density mill starch with the low density mill starch to the germ separating operation; and using part of the mill starch from the germ separating operation and part of the mill starch from the coarse slop wash for diluting the aforesaid de-watered material before treating it for removal of gluten.

7. In thev process of obtaining starch from corn'comprising': steeping and commuting the 75 density for diluting gluten;

separating and washing the germs and slop yielding mill starch streams oi diilerent densities;

treating mill starch to remove gluten and the major portion of'the water therefrom; and `reusing said last mentioned water for steeping corn, as the process is continued, the improvement which comprises: extracting water from a mili starch mixture having a relatively high density; using mill starch mixture having a relatively high the material de -watered as aforesaid before it is treated i'or removal -of and returning, without treatment, to the process at a stage in advance ofthe dewatering stage a mill starch mixture of relatively low density.

corn which comprises: subjectingthe corn in a comminuted state'to operations for separating 8. In the process of obtaining starch from` and washing the germs and slopyielding mill starch streams oi diilerent densities; extracting water from the mill starch for re-use in .the

process; and tabling mill starch to remove gluten,

the improvement which comprises: using a vacuum lterfor extractingwat'er tro starch and sendin'g to said lter -a mixture of said mill starch mixtures of din'erent densities inthe having a density oi.' about 6 Baume: and dilutingthe lter cake' from the nlters with mill starch in such amount and ofsuch density to give a mill starch mixture for tabling having a density of about 13 Baume. Y

9. In the process o1' obtaining starch from corn comprising: steeping and comminuting the corn; subjecting the material to operations for separating and washing the germs and slop. yielding mill starch streams of dmerent densities; treating mill starch to remove gluten and the-major portion ot the Vwater therefrom; and re-using said lastmentioned water for steeping corn'. as the process is continued on fresh material, the improvement which comprises: combining mill starch streams in such proportions to provide a mill starch 6? Baume; usinga vacuum illter to extract water from a portion oi' the mixture; using another portion oflsaid mixture for diluting the material dewatered as aforesaid before it is treated for removal vof gluten; and returning, without treatment. tothe process at a stage in advance of the de'watering stage the millstarch mixture of rela.-A

tively low density. SAMUEL SHURBACK.

mixture of substantially 

